Why does water from a shower the same temperature as the room feel colder?

Question

Why does water from a shower the same temperature as the room feel colder?

In: Physics

Answer 1

So first; its important to note that what you can’t actually feel “temperature,” but instead you feel rates of heat transfer. Now, heat transfer *is* partially dependent on the difference in temperature between you and the object you’re touching, **but** its also dependent on the heat capacity and conductivity of the material in question.

Water has a much higher heat capacity than air, and as a result water at room temperature fill soak up more heat from your body than the air, which your body will interpret as the water being “colder.” This is also why room-temperature metals feel cool to the touch.